The Death of Death in the Death of Christ, Book 1 · Chapter 4
CHAP IV.
Of these things which in the work of redemption are peculiarly ascribed to the person of the sonne.
SEcondly, the … was an Agent in this great work, concurring by a voluntary susception, or willing undertaking of the office imposed on him: for when the Lord said, sacrifice and offerings § I (a) The second agent in this great work is the second person of the Trinity, voluntarily concerning inhe would not, in burnt offerings and sacrifice for sinne he had no pleasure, then said Christ, lo I come, in the volume of the book it is written of me to do thy will O God, Heb. 10. 17. 18. all other wayes being rejected or insufficient, Christ undertaketh the task, in whom alone the father was well pleased, Mat. 3. 13. hence he professeth that he came not to do his own will, but the will of him that sent him, John 6. 38. yea that it was his meat and drink, to do his fathers will, and to finish his work, John 4. 34. The first words that we find recorded of him in Scripture are to the same purpose, wot you not, that I must be about my Fathers businesse Luke. 2. 49. and at the close of all he saith, I have glorified thee on earth, I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do, John 17. 4. calling it every where his Fathers work that he did, or his fathers will which he came to accomplish, with reference to the imposition, which wee before treated of. Now this undertaking of the Son may be referred to three heads: the first being a common foundation for both the other, being as it were the means in respect of them as the End, and yet in some sort partaking of the nature of a distinct action, with a goodnesse in it self, in reference to the main end proposed to all three; we shall consider it apart: and that is
First his b2 His oblationIncarnation, as usually it is called, for his taking of flesh, § II a His Incarnation.and pitching his tentamongst us. John 1. 4. his being made of a woman. Gal. 4. 4. is usually called his foreign or incarnation, for this was the mistery of godlinesse, that God should be manifested in the flesh, 1 Tim. 3. 13. thereby assuming not any singular person but our humane nature into personall union with himself; for, for as much as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himselfe likewise took part of the same, that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devill, Heb. 2. 14. it was the children that he considered, the children whom the Lord gave him, v. 13. their participation in flesh and blood, moved him to partake of the same: not because all the world, all the posterity of Adam, but because the children were in that condition, for their sakes he sanctified himself. Now this emptying of the Deity, this humbling of himself, this dwelling amongst us, was the sole act of the second Person or the Divine nature in the second Person, the Father and the Spirit having no concurrence in it, but by liking, approbation, and eternall counsell.
Secondly, his oblation or offering himself up to God for us § III without spot to purge our consciences from dead works, Heb 9. 14. for he loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, Rev. 1. 5. he loved his Church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctifie and cleanse it Ephes. 5. 25. 26. taking the cup of wrath at his Fathers hands, due to us, and drinking it off, but not for himself, Dan. 9. 6. for, for our sakes he sanctified himself, John 17. 19. that is, to be an offering, an oblation for sin; for when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly, Rom. 5. 6. This being that, which was typified out by all the institutions, ordinances and sacrifices of old, which when they were to have an end then said Christ Loe I come to do thy will: now though the perfecting or consummating of this oblation, be set out in the scripture chiefly in respect of what Christ suffered, and not so much in respect of what he did, because it is chiefly considered as the means used by these three blessed Agents, for the attaining of a further end, yet in respect of his own voluntary giving up himself, to be so an oblation and a sacrifice, without which it would not have been of any value, (for if the will of Christ had not beene in it, it could never have purged our sins) therefore in that regard, I referre it to his actions. He was the Lamb of God that takes away the sinnes of the world John. 1. 29. the lamb of God, which himself had provided for a sacrifice; and how did this lambe behave himself in it? with unwillingnesse, and strugling? no, he opened not his mouth, he was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before the Shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth Isay. 53. 7. whence he sayeth, I lay down my life, no man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of my self, I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again John 10. 17. 18. He might have been cruciated on the part of God, but his death could not have been an oblation and offering had not his will concurred. But he loved me saith the Apostle, and gave himself for me: Gal. 2. 20. Now that alone deserves the name of a gift, which is from a free and a willing minde, as Christs was, when he loved us and gave himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour, Eph. 5. 2. he does it cheerefully, loe I come to do thy will O my God, Heb. 9. 10. and so his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, 1 Pet. 2. 24. Now this oblation or offering of Christ, I would not tye up to any one thing, action, or passion, performance or suffering, but it compriseth the whole oeconomy and dispensation of God manifested in the flesh, and conversing among us, with all those things which he performed in the dayes of his flesh, when he offered up prayers and supplications, with strong cries and tears, untill he had fully by himself purged our sins, and sate down on the right hand of the majesty on high, He. 1. 3. expecting until his enemies be made his footstool. All the whole dispensation of his coming and ministring, untill he had given his soul a price of redemption for many Mat. 26. but for his entring into the holyest of holyes, sprinkled with his owne blood, and appearing so for us, before the majesty of God, by some accounted as the continuation of his oblation we may referre unto 3ly. His dHis Intercession which two last areIntercession, For all & every one of those, for whom he gave § IIII himselfe for an oblation, he did not suffer for them, and then refuse to intercede for them, he did not doe the greater, and omit the lesse, The price of our redemption is more precious in the eyes of God and his sonne, then that it should (as it were) be cast away on perishing soules, without any care taken, of what becomes of them afterwards, nay this also is imposed on Christ, with a promise annexed. Aske of me (saith the Lord) and I will give thee the nations, for thine inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession. Psal. 2. 8. Who accordingly tels his disciples, that he had more worke to doe for them in heaven, I goe saith he to prepare a place for you, that I may come againe and receive you unto my selfe, Joh. 14. 2. 3. for as the high priest went into the second alone, once every yeare, not without bloud, which he offered for himselfe and the errors of the people. Heb. 9. 7. so Christ bebeing come an high Priest of good things to come, by his owne blood entred once into the holy place having obtained for us eternall redemption, Heb. 9. 11. 12. Now what was this holy place whereinto he entred, thus sprinkled with the bloud of the Covenant, and to what end did he enter into it? why; he is not entred into the holy place, made with hands, which is the figure of the true, but into heaven it selfe now to appeare in the presence of God for us, v. 24. and what doth he there appeare for? why; to be our advocate to plead our cause with God, for the application of the good things, procured by his oblation unto all them for whom he was an offering; as the Apostle tell us, if any man sinne we have an Advocate with the Father, even Jesus Christ the righteous, 1 John 2. 1. why? how comes that to passe? he is a propitiation for our sinnes. v. 2. his being foreign a propitiatory sacrifice for our finnes, is the foundation of his interceding, the ground of it: and therefore they both belong to the same persons. Now (by the way) we know, that Christ refused to pray for the world, in opposition to his elect: I pray for them saith he, I pray not for the world, but for them thou hast given me, out of the world. Joh. 19. 9; and therefore there was no foundation for such an interceding for them, because he was not foreign for them. Againe, we know the father alwayes heareth the sonne, For I know saith he, that he heareth me alwayes. Joh. 11. 42. that is so to grant his request, eRestrained to the same person.according to the forementioned ingagement, Psa. 2. 8. and therefore if he should intercede for all; all should undoubtedly be saved: For he is able to save to the utmost, them that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Heb. 7. 25. Hence is that confidence of the Apostle, upon that intercession of Christ, Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect? it is God that justifieth, who is he that condemneth? it is Christ that dyed, yea rather that is risen againe, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us, Rom. 8. 33. 34. where also we cannot but observe, that those for whom he dyed, may assuredly conclude he maketh intercession for them, and that none shall lay any thing to their charge: which breakes the neck of the generall ransome, for according to that, he dyed for millions, that have no interest in his intercession, who shall have their sinnes laid to their charge, and perish under them: which might be further cleared up, from the very nature of this intercession, which is not an humble dejected supplication, which beseemes not that glorious state of advancement, which he is possessed of, that sits at the right hand of the Majesty on high; but an authoratitive presenting himselfe before the throne of his Father, sprinkled with his owne bloud, for the making out to his people all spirituall things that are procured by his oblation; saying, Father, I will that those whom thou hast given me be where I am, Joh. 17. so that for whomsoever he suffered, he appeares for them in heaven with his satisfaction and merit. Here also, we must call to minde what the Father promised his Sonne, upon his undertaking of this imployment; for there is no doubt, but that for that, and that alone doth Christ upon the accomplishment of the whole, intercede with him about, which was in summe, that he might be the Captaine of salvation to all that believe on him, and effectually bring many sonnes to glory. And hence it is, having such an high Priest over the house of God, we may draw neere with the full assurance of faith, for by one offering he hath perfected them that are sanctified, Heb. 10. 13. But of this more must be said afterwards.